Axmar: Archipelago Nature and Cultural History

Axmar brings together archipelago scenery and cultural history. Axmar bruk Cultural Reserve includes the sea, the harbor, the Hyttan and Engelska Parken. Nearby, the nature reserve, with its bays and lagoons, showcases another side of the region. This offers different focuses for planning your trip: the coastal landscape, the history of iron production, or activities on foot, by bike, and on the water.

Archipelago Scenery and Underwater World

Axmar Nature Reserve is the largest continuous archipelago area on the southern coast of the Gulf of Bothnia and covers about 4,500 hectares. Shallow bays and lagoons provide diverse underwater habitats for plants and animals. You can get to know this protected landscape both through its vast expanse and its distinctive shallow-water habitats.

There are about 20 shipwrecks in the waters around Axmar bruk. Most are so shallow that they can be seen from the surface. On a guided round trip, you can explore Axmar Blue Park by paddling, snorkeling, or scuba diving. Check locally in advance for details about the conditions and how such a tour is run.

Axmar bruk Cultural Reserve

Axmar bruk became a cultural reserve in 2011. The present-day Hyttan was built in 1861; iron production there ceased in 1927. As a monument within the cultural reserve, the building commemorates this period in history. At the same time, the Hyttan serves as a venue for concerts, theater, exhibitions, and other activities. The site thus combines the history of iron production with a diverse range of cultural uses.

Walking and Cycling Routes

The “från stig till vrak” walking trail starts at Axmar bruk and runs north along the coast for one kilometer on the mainland. On Kusön, a forest trail about three kilometers long runs between Badviken and Korshamn. The two trail descriptions therefore differ both in length and character: on the mainland, the route follows the coast; on Kusön, it passes through the forest. Check the condition of the mainland trail before setting out. The trails on Kusön are currently uncleared and cannot currently be walked; check their current status immediately before visiting.

There are four cycling routes at Axmar bruk. They lead, among other places, to Gåsholma Fiskeläge and Gnagmurs Nature Reserve, and pass through forest, along the coast, and over the sea. Choosing a route lets you weigh up different destinations and landscapes. As route conditions can change, it is a good idea to check information about the specific route before setting out.

Kayak Tours and Planning Your Time

There are three kayak routes at Axmar, with different time commitments: a shorter trip of a few hours, a day trip, and an overnight trip. This range makes the planned duration a practical point of comparison when putting together your activities. Together with the cycling routes and the walking trails described above, these offer several ways to get around, while the current restriction on Kusön should be taken into account when planning.

Discover more destinations: Hedesunda, Hamrånge, Norrsundet, Bergby, Valbo, Gävle, Forsbacka

Back to the main travel overview: Gävle.